Zakharova: Handbook for Journalists Covering World Cup is ‘More Russophobia’

RUSSIA -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and FIFA president Gianni Infantino pose with their FAN IDs for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia at a distribution centre in Sochi, May 3, 2018

Share

Zakharova: Handbook for Journalists Covering World Cup is ‘More Russophobia’

share

Maria Zakharova

Press secretary, Foreign Ministry, Russia

“The initiative that seems to be useful at first glance and aimed at helping sports observers cover the main football event occurring every four years actually turned out to be nothing but more Russophobia, trivial anti-Russian stereotypes."

The Russian Foreign Ministry said the handbook for journalists covering this year’s World Cup, which will be held next month in Russia, is “nothing but more Russophobia” and a “collection of trivial anti-Russian stereotypes.”

The handbook was produced by the Norwegian Helsinki Commission, together with other global rights watchdog groups, including Amnesty International and the Human Rights Foundation.

The 22-page handbook serves as a comprehensive database of documented abuses, including those that happened in the 11 Russian cities where the 64 World Cup soccer matches will be held. It also gives contact information for local rights activists.

In addition, the handbook includes essays by independent Russian journalists and rights activists recommending topics beyond sports that their foreign colleagues covering the World Cup should look into while in Russia.